# Expanding the Particle Range for Biocatalytically Active Pickering Emulsions with Silicone Coatings

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a new method to create particles that stabilize oil-in-water emulsions for biocatalysis using silicone coatings, improving reaction efficiency.

## Contribution

Silicone coatings are introduced as a novel and tunable method to produce particles for stabilizing biocatalytic Pickering emulsions.

## Key findings

- Silicone-coated particles can stabilize water-in-oil Pickering emulsions effectively.
- Lipase-catalyzed reactions can occur with the catalyst immobilized on the particles or in the dispersed phase.
- The method is versatile and compatible with various inorganic and organic materials.

## Abstract

Pickering emulsions (PEs) are a particularly promising class of reaction systems for biocatalysis, typically in a water‐in‐oil (w/o) configuration, with a continuous organic phase and a dispersed aqueous phase containing the biocatalyst. However, only a few micro‐ and nanoparticles possess the intrinsic hydrophobicity necessary to stabilize such a w/o PE, which limits the application prospects. Here, silicone coatings are applied to prepare micro particles for w/o PE stabilization for the first time. The study demonstrates compatibility with available inorganic and organic materials, and the effects of silicone coatings with overall hydrophilic, amphiphilic, or hydrophobic properties on the particle size, PE formation, and the stability of the PE. Furthermore, a lipase‐catalyzed transesterification in PE obtained with silicone‐coated particles is performed, and the possibility to place the catalyst not only in the dispersed phase of the PE, but also on the stabilizing particles prior to coating is demonstrated. The results indicate silicone coatings as a straightforward, versatile, and tunable method for the preparation of particles with suitable properties for both the stabilization of BioPE and the immobilization of active biocatalysts.

Pickering emulsions are a promising class of reaction systems for biocatalysis. However, only a few materials can stabilize the required w/o emulsion. In this study, it is demonstrated that coating microparticles with modified silicone is a straightforward, versatile, and tunable method for producing appropriate particles. Consequently, enzyme carriers can be employed as emulsion stabilizers and immobilization materials, thereby intensifying reaction efficiency.